Here we have an 8 x 10 photo of Eddie Rickenbacker meeting with Captain James Jabara (center), of Wichita, Kansas. Jabara was the first American Jet "Ace" in history. The two men met in the office of General Hoyt S. Vandenberg (right), Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force on May 31, 1951. Captain Rickenbacker became the first American "Ace" on 30 May 1918 and Captain Jabara became the first American jet "Ace" on 20 May 1951.

James Jabara was born on October 10, 1923 in Muskogee, Oklahoma. He was of Lebanese descent. First flying in World War II, his greatest fame was during the Korean War where he had 6 confirmed kills against MIG-15 jets, becoming the first American "Ace" in jet fighters. While training for his first tour in Vietnam, Jabara was tragically killed in a Florida car accident on November 17, 1966.

Hoyt Sanford Vandenberg was the second Chief of Staff of the US Air Force, and a Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Born on January 24, 1899 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Marilyn Monroe once named him one of three men that she would like to be stranded on a deserted island with, his good looks having earned him spots on the cover of both Time, and Life Magazines. Forced to retire due to illness, General Vandenberg passed away on April 2, 1954 from prostate cancer.

Born on October 8, 1890 in Columbus, Ohio, Eddie Rickenbacker was a man of many accomplishments but is best known as the foremost US flying ace during early, military aviation, history. With 26 confirmed kills, Rickenbacker was the recipient of the prestigious Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Service Cross, the Legion of Honor and the Croix de Guerre.

Eddie Rickenbacker raced in the 1912, 1914, 1915 and 1916 Indianapolis 500 races. He later became owner and operator of the Indianapolis Speedway.

He started his own automobile company and manufactured the Rickenbacker. It was a large failure, forcing Eddie into huge debt and the company into bankruptcy.

His most enduring business venture was Eastern Airlines which, under Rickenbacker's leadership, became a major International commercial airline.

Eddie Rickbacker passed away in Switzerland after suffering a stroke on July 27, 1973.

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